“Legal Notice” vs. “Impressum”: What’s Required on Your Website in Each EU Country
Introduction
If your business operates in Europe, you’ve likely come across terms like Legal Notice, Impressum, or Mentions légales. These aren’t just different words — they are legally defined requirements that vary across EU countries. Getting them right is critical for transparency, customer trust, and avoiding penalties.
This guide breaks down the country-specific rules, what businesses must publish, challenges you’ll face, and how to simplify the process across multiple markets.
Why disclosure terminology matters in the EU
Different EU countries use different labels for required website disclosures:
- Germany & Austria: “Impressum”
- France: “Mentions légales”
- Italy: “Informazioni legali”
- Netherlands: “Legal Notice”
Understanding these terms is important because:
- It demonstrates transparency and builds trust with customers.
- It satisfies consumer protection rules and e-commerce laws.
- It helps businesses avoid financial penalties and reputational risks.
Core legal frameworks requiring company disclosures
Each EU country has its own legislation defining what businesses must display online. Here are some of the main frameworks:
- Germany & Austria – TTDSG and E-Commerce Law: Requires an Impressum with company name, address, registration, and a responsible contact person.
- France – LCEN (Loi pour la Confiance dans l'Économie Numérique): Requires Mentions légales with company identifiers, registration numbers, and contact details.
- Italy – E-Commerce Law: Requires Informazioni legali with VAT number, business registry details, and contact information.
- Netherlands – Dutch Civil Code & E-Commerce Law: Requires a “Legal Notice” including Chamber of Commerce (KvK) number, VAT ID, and contact details.
What businesses must disclose online
Though the terminology varies, most countries expect similar details. Think of this as your digital business card:
- Legal or trading name
- Registered office address
- Contact information (email, phone)
- Registration number and issuing authority
- VAT identification number (if applicable)
- Details of relevant licenses or supervisory authorities
- Accessibility statements, where required
EU website disclosure requirements
Impressum (Germany & Austria) | Legal Notice (France, Italy, Netherlands, etc.) |
|---|---|
Required information | Required information |
Company name ad legal form (e.g. GmbH, AG) | Legal or trading name of the business |
Registered office address | Registered business address |
Commercial register number & court of registration | Registration or company number (e.g. Chamber of Commerce (KYK) In NL) |
VAT ID number | VAT number (if applicable) |
Name of person responsible for content (Inhaltlich Verantwortlicher) | Business license or professional association info (if relevant) |
Contact details (email, phone) | Contact information (email, phone) |
Supervisory authority information (if regulated sector. e.g., finance, healthcare) | Hosting provider details (specifically required in France's "Mentions legales") |
Penalties for non-compliance | Penalties for non-compliance |
Administrative fines | France: fines up to € 75:000 (individuals) / € 375,B00 (companies) |
Cease-and-desist letters (Abmahnung) from consumers or competitors | Italy & Netherlands: regulatory enforcement and notices |
Common challenges in managing disclosures
Maintaining disclosures across multiple countries and platforms is not simple. Businesses face issues such as:
- Multiple touchpoints: Websites, apps, and marketplaces all require updates.
- Regulatory variation: Slight differences between national laws create complexity.
- Version control: Outdated details may linger online.
- Internal coordination: Legal, IT, and marketing teams must align.
Penalties for non-compliance
Failing to provide the right information can trigger financial and reputational consequences:
- France (LCEN): Up to €75,000 for individuals and €375,000 for businesses.
- Germany (TTDSG): Administrative penalties depending on the violation.
- UK (EC Directive Regulations): Enforcement action by Trading Standards and other authorities.
2025 updates to watch
Some EU countries are strengthening disclosure obligations in 2025:
- France: Updates to Mentions légales guidance to explicitly cover marketplaces and platforms.
- Germany: Discussions about adding stricter rules for mobile apps.
- EU-wide: The Digital Services Act indirectly reinforces disclosure rules by requiring “easy-to-contact” information for online platforms.
Businesses should prepare now to adapt disclosures across all digital channels.
Staying ahead of changing requirements
In order to support both compliance and efficiency:
- Monitor EU and national updates regularly.
- Use structured company profiles to centralize information.
- Train teams to update disclosures whenever details change.
How Clym can help
Clym offers a centralized Company Data Management solution that simplifies disclosure obligations across the EU.
With Clym, you can:
- Create one company profile containing all required details.
- Publish it across multiple websites, apps, and platforms.
- Make changes in a single place and update everywhere instantly.
- Configure multiple languages for local markets.
- Integrate directly into your CMS or e-commerce platform.
FAQ
They allow customers, regulators, and partners to identify and contact your business. This supports consumer trust and prevents fraud.
No. While most require core details like name, address, and registration number, terms and additional requirements differ. Germany’s Impressum is more detailed than Italy’s Informazioni legali.
Disclosures should be reviewed whenever business details change (e.g., new address or VAT ID). At minimum, an annual audit is best practice.
Yes. If you operate on digital platforms, the same legal requirements typically apply. In 2025, France clarified this under Mentions légales.
Automation reduces workload, but human oversight is critical. A quarterly review facilitates accuracy and avoids penalties.
Consequences range from fines (€75,000+ in France, variable in Germany) to enforcement actions that may restrict business operations.
Yes, though both serve the same purpose. Impressum is a specific legal category in German-speaking countries, while “Legal Notice” is the general EU-wide equivalent.
Best practice is to provide information in the local language of each target market. Some countries explicitly require it.
They must be easy to find, often linked in the footer. Labels like “Legal Notice,” “Impressum,” or “Company Information” are recommended.
Yes. Clym integrates with most popular platforms, making updates seamless.
In some jurisdictions, yes. For example, Germany often combines Impressum and accessibility statements into one disclosure section.
Enforcement varies. In some cases, each non-compliant domain or app may count as a separate violation.
National regulators: CNIL in France, Bundesnetzagentur in Germany, AGCOM in Italy, ACM in the Netherlands.
Alex is a Content Developer at Clym, where he researches and writes about everything related to data privacy and web accessibility compliance for businesses, helping them stay informed on their compliance needs and spreading awareness about making the web safer and more inclusive. When he’s not writing about compliance, Alex has his nose in a book or is hiking in the great outdoors.
Find out more about Alex